Sylvania



I A. PAPINI. CURRENT REGULATING FOOT SWITCH.

APPLlCATlQN FILED AUG-15h I919- Patented Mar. 30, 1920.

5 /nmu u 5 UNITED srnrjas ear-sum curios.

ANTONIO PAPINI, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO A. MECKY COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

CURREN T-REGULATIN G FOOT-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 30,1920.

Application filed August 15, 1819. Serial No. 317,827.

To all whom it may concern having declared my intention of becoming a citizen thereof, residin in' the city and county of Philadelphia, gtate of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Current-Regulating Foot-Switch, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of a novel construction of an electric regulator or current regulating foot switch, wherein the operators foot 1s applied directly to a metallic springpressed footactuated button, whereby novel means are actuated for regulating the force ofthe current of electric dynamos, motors,

lamps or. any otherapparatus or machines to which electricity is supplied from a suitable source, my invention comprising a suitable casing or receptacle adapted to be inserted in or form a part of the electric circuit, and said casing supporting or'containing the novel devices to which my invention particularlyv relates, whereby novel means are provided to open or close the circuit when desired, by the pressure of the operators footand' thecurrent is caused to diverge or pass through a suitable resistance material whose relatively low conductivity isincreased or diminished, according to re quirements, by compressing it more or less by the novel collocation of a piston, a piston rod whichis connected in a novel man nor to and suitably insulated .from said foot actuated button, said piston, piston rod, button and its adjuncts operating in unison as-a unit and being normally retained in elevated position by a suitable tension device, during which period the circuit is open or broken, the circuit being closed or the flow of the current increased by a depression of said metallic spring-pressed button and its adjuncts, as will be hereinafter described.

get out of order, and which is readily accessible at all times for the purposes of in spection, replacement and repair.

For the purpose of illustrating my inven tion, I have shown in the accompanying drawings, forms thereof which are at present preferred by me, since they will give in practice satisfactory and reliable-results. It isto be understood that the various instrumcntalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these ins trumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional view of a novel current regulating foot switch embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 represents a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a different construction of resistance material employed.

Fig. 3 represents a detached view of the fixed and adjustable contact employed.

Fig. 4 represents a sectional view of the metallic air box in detached position.

Similar numerals of reference indicate correspondingparts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings:

1 designates my novel construction of electric regulator or current regulating foot switch. the same comprising a suitable casing' 2 having the ports 3 in the side walls.

thereof, which permit the egress of heated air, said casing being supported upon the insulating base/l and having the holes 5 and 6' therein, which are provided with the insulating screwed bushings-7 and 8 respec tively.

9 designates a metallic foot actuated but 1 ton, which is normally retained in upward -position by the tension of the spring 10 which is contained the upper portion of the piston rod 14, which passes through the lower sleeve-like portion 15 of said bushing and also through the lower follower or insulating bushing 16, said piston rod being threaded at its lower end and passing through said bushing 16 and being secured the contact point 22,"which in its simplest embodiment, comprises a bolt, which is screwed through a metal plate 24 in the --bottom of said-cylinder, the-head 25 of said fbolt servingito-holdin-position the conductor 26, from which leads the conductor 27. :28 designates another electrical conductor, which'is connected to the conductor 29, Y

which has a coiled terminal 30, as seen in Fig; 1','-wh ich is secured to the piston 17, the :upper .end of said conductor 29 and said --.e'oil-30 passing through-and being located in suitable recesses inthe insulating bushings 11.- and'lfi.

- '31wdesignates-the other electrical con- '-ductor,-so: that-it'will be apparent that the current flows in' 'through the conductors 28 and 29 and the coil 30 to the piston, then passes through the resistance material 20,-

-= flowing"oi1t through the'conductors 26 and 27, the current flowing back through the conductor 31. Y

- It will be apparent'to those skilled in the art, that as the operator depresses the metallic'foot button 9, the bushing 16 and the -onductivity of the resistance material be- 1 low said piston being increased or dimin- --ishcd, according to requirements, so that the current will be correspondingly regulated, it being apparent that when the operator removes his foot from-the button 9, the tension of the spring 10 will cause said button, piston rod 14 and piston 17 to rise and assume theirhighe'st position" seen in Fig. 1. In: the construrition'fseen in Fig. 2, the "parts'9, 10,'11, '12, 13, 145, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24,25, 26, 27, 28 and 29, are all substan- 'tially thesame as seen in Fig.1, but 'in lieu ofthe flaked or granulated resistance material20 seen in Fig. 1, I have shown in'Fig.

' 2,'a'plurality of resistance disks 32 having a central hole therethrough, said disks being separated by the metallic air box 33 having the upper and lower centrally apertured "plates and the side ports 34, which latter are located in proximity to the ports 35 in the cylinder 19, this construction and collocation o'fresistance disks 32 and the air box 33 being preferably employed in large switches, where considerable heat is generated, it being apparent that 'said heat is taken up by the metallic; air boxes, whose upper and lower-portions have central holes 36 tl1erethrough the heat being permitted to escape through theports 35 and 3, so that the :switch is efi'ectively'ventilated at all times. Iii-the. embodiment of my invention shown sistance disks or washers 32 in Fig. 2, I have also shown a slightly different arrangement of the terminals at the upper left-hand portion of said figure, wherein the fixed terminal 37 is shown as being normally separated 'from the adjustable terminal'38, which latter has the vertical member 40 terminating in the coil '41, which is secured to the top of'the 'piston17, said vertical member 40 being" vertically guided in the guide 39, which is stationary and is attached to or screwed into the insulating bushing 16, as will be;'unde'rstood from Figs-2 and 3. i

The positionthe parts normally assume will be understood from'saidFigs 2 and3,

the circuit being broken when the spring pressed metallic button 9 is in its uppermost position, in which it is held ,bythe spring 10, it being apparent'th'atwhen the parts are in this'position, no current will pass, until the circuit is closed by the depression of the button?) by the operators foot, sothat as soon as-thecontact 38 moves downwardly and contacts with the *fixed contact 37, the circuit will be closed and the current "will'fiow 'through"the apparatus, the relatively low conductivity'of the reor diminished according to the pressure exerted upon the foot'button parent to thoseskilled in the art,'.'it bein further apparent that when the'button 9 is piston 17 are depressed,"the relatively low depressed, the piston rod 'l l the piston 17, coil ll and contact 38 will'move down-,

wardly as a unit, the parts beingfre'stored I My novel construction of current regulating foot switch can be cheaply manufactnred, is notreadily liable to get out of order, audit will be apparent that when the closure 42 and. the. bushing 11 is removed,

all the 'parts ofthe device are readily ac cessible for the purposes ofinspe'ction, replacement or repairs.

In the construction seen in Fig. 1, itwill be apparent that a slight amount of current is always flowingthrough the device byreason of the connection of the terminal coil 30 directly to the'piston 17, while in-the construction seen in Figs. 2 and;3, the circuit is normally open or broken when the button 9 is in its elevated position,'where it is retained by the spring 10,'the circuit only being closed when the button and piston are depressed sufiiciently to form the contact between the contacts It will now be apparent thatl'havedevised a newjanduseful current regulating foot switch which embodies'the -feat'ures,.of advantage enumerated as desirable in 'itlle statement of the invention and the abovelde. I have, in the present scription, and while being increased 9,- as will be ap-' 37 and "38, as isevident iso 'ters Patent, is:-'

;.l. Ina device .of theicharacter stated, a receptacle containing a resistance material,

I a compressing device -for.varying the pressure therein, said compressing device comprising a spring-pressed button normally retained in elevated position, a piston rod carried by said button, an insulating bushing intermediate said piston rod and button, another insulating bushing for the lower portion of said button, a piston contained in said receptacle, said piston, piston rod and button being-adapted to be depressed in unison, and a spring engaging the under side of said button for normally retaining it in upward position.

2. In a device of the character stated, a body, having an insulating base and ventilation ports in the side thereof, an insulating bushing in engagement with the top of said body, a foot actuated button having a lower extension mounted in said insulating bushing, said button being hollow, a piston rod contained in said button, an insulating bushing intermediate said piston rod and button, a piston in the upper portion of said receptacle, insulation intermediate said button and the top of said piston, a resistance material below said piston and adapted to be compressed thereby, and a spring exerting tension on the bottom of said button for normally retaining the latter in elevated position.

3. In a device of the character stated, a body portion having an insulating base and ports in the side thereof, an insulating bushing in engagement with the top of said body, a foot-actuated button having its depending portion mounted in said insulating bushing, said button being hollow, a piston rod contained in said button, an insulating bushing intermediate said piston rod and button, a piston in the upper portion of said receptacle, a cylinder for said piston having ports therein, insulation intermediate said button and the top of said piston, a spring intermediate said first mentioned bushing, and the bottom of said button for normally retaining the latter in elevated position, and a resistance material below said piston and adapted to be compressed thereby said resistance material comprising a plurality of resistance disks, and an apertured air box intermediate said disks and having ports in its sides, the ports of said in the side thereof, a cylinder supported in said body, an insulating bushing in the top of said body, a foot actuated button having a downward extension movable in said bushing, a piston rod contained in said button and insulated therefrom, a piston secured to said piston rod, insulation between the bottom of said button andthe top of said piston, a spring exerting anupward tension on the underside of said button, a conductor having a fixed terminal located within said body, an adjustable terminal having a coil secured to said piston, a guide for said adjustable terminal, said latter terminal, piston and button moving as a unit, and a resistance material in said cylinder below said piston.

5. In a device of the character stated, a body having an insulating base and ports in the side thereof, a cylinder supported in said body, an insulating bushing in the top of said body, a foot actuated button having a downward extension movable in said bushing, a piston rod contained in said button and insulated therefrom, a piston secured to said piston rod, insulation between the bottom of said button and the top of said pis ton, a spring exerting an upward tension on the underside of said button, a conductor having a fixed terminal located'within said body, an adjustable terminal having a coil secured to said piston, a guide for said adjustable terminal, said latter terminal, piston and button moving as a unit, and a resistance material in said cylinder below said piston, said resistance material comprising centrally apertured disks adapted to be compressed by said piston.

6. In a device of the character stated, a body having an insulating base and ports in the side thereof, a cylinder supported in said body, an insulating bushing in the top of said body, a foot actuated button having a downward extension movable in said bushing, a piston rod contained in said button and insulated therefrom, a piston secured to said piston rod, insulation between the bottom of said button and the top of said piston, a spring exerting an upward tension on the underside of said button, a conductor having a fixed terminal located within said body, an adjustable terminal having a coil secured to said piston, a guide for said adjustable terminal, said latter terminal, piston and button moving as a unit, and a resistance material in said cylinder below said piston, said resistance material comprising centrally apertured disks adapted to be compressed by said piston, and a metallic air box interposed between said disks and having side exit ports fol-the eXit of heated air.

7. In a device of the character stated, a

- body portion having an insulating base and ports in the side thereof, a cylinder supported in said body, an insulating bushing in the top of Said body, a foot actuated button having a downward extension movable in said bushing, a piston rod contained-in said button and insulated therefrom, a piston secured to said piston 'rod, insulation between the bottomof'said' button and the top'of said piston, a spring exerting an up- Ward tension on the underside of said button, a conductor having a fixed terminal located within said body, an adjustable terminal having a coil secured to said'piston,

material, comprising centrally apertured disks adapted to be compressed by said pisand a metallic air-box interp d.=

' tween said disks and having central topand bottom ports alining with ports in the side of said cylinder, the heated air being discharged through the' ports in said cylinder and body.

8. Ina device of the character stated, a body, a foot actuated button resiliently mounted thereon and insulated therefrom, a cylinder carried by'saidibody, a vertically movable piston mounted within-said cylinder and'operab le by therabo've fm'entioned button, a fixedcontact'within said body and an adj ustable: contact mounted on said-piston,'said button, piston and adjustable con tact being movable as a unit and adapted to 'close the circuit'when said button is depressed.

I ANTONIO 'PAPINI.

- lVitnesses JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM,

N. BUs'sINcER. 

